That Panicky Feeling

You’re a good Christian. Of course, you don’t blast it out over a megaphone. You don’t pay people to go around broadcasting your goodness or hire an agent to sing your praises. But in your heart of hearts you humbly feel you are trying to honor the Lord to the best of your ability. Sure, you are far from perfect and you’d be the first to admit it but thank God, at least you’re trying to walk daily with your Lord.

But right now you are disturbed. You’re feeling guilty over the panicky feeling you have inside. And good Christians aren’t supposed to feel panicky. But no matter what way you look at it, there’s no realistic or feasible breakthrough in sight.

Your situation almost sounds like the Red Sea crisis. The happiest night of their lives quickly turned into a nightmare. As the children of Israel marched down the road, their minds raced with excitement. Free at last! No more angry shouts and brutal beatings. Victory! But before they knew it, they had run into an apparent obstacle – the Red Sea.

Their joy was so short lived. In the distance, they could hear behind them the galloping hoofs of Pharaoh’s mighty horses and his 600 war chariots and many more. But they couldn’t budge. It would be genocide for millions of people to plunge head-long into the Red Sea.

And when Pharaoh drew nigh,
the children of Israel lifted up their eyes,
and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them;
and they were sore afraid:
and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
Exodus 14:10

Sore afraid. Terrified. Panicky. Scared stiff. The laughs of joy vanished. Their hearts pounded with fear. Their faces were contorted in fright – almost angry at God for such a short-lived high.

From one side of their mouth they cried unto the Lord and out of the other they verbally assaulted Moses blaming him for their predicament. Harsh and reckless statements can be made in the heat of the moment when there is intense pressure.

Moses told them not to fear. Don’t work yourself up into a frenzy. Don’t start looking for drift wood to float yourselves across the Sea. Just stand still and watch the Lord wonderfully intervene.

“The LORD will fight for you,
and you have only to be silent.”
The LORD said to Moses,
“…Tell the people of Israel to go forward.”
(Exodus 14:14-15)

And forward they went – right straight through to the other side. Amazing!

Are you trying to figure out a way to do it? Are you looking for driftwood?  Are you tossing and turning at night trying to engineer a solution? Are you in turmoil, panicking over what to do or where to turn?

Get alone with the Lord. He will hear your cry. Linger in His presence. Open up your Bible. Allow Him to quieten your spirit as He speaks to you through His Word. Be still. Focus on His power. His infinite wisdom. His eternal perspective. His love for you.

Shhhh! Quiet. Be silent. Let your tensed-up muscles relax. Fall into His keeping and care. Let Him intervene. Let Him solve this one.

Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.

Warmly in Christ

Peter Ramsay